Program Info
The Youth Education Program delivers school and community-based prevention services designed to help young people make healthy, informed choices. Services are provided in small group and classroom settings at the elementary, middle, and high school levels during the school year, as well as at community sites year-round. Using evidence-based curricula and a variety of prevention resources, the program focuses on building knowledge and strengthening life skills. We believe substance misuse, violence, and other high-risk behaviors can be prevented through education paired with practical skill development.
Lehigh and Northampton County Services
With support from the Lehigh and Northampton Counties Departments of Drug and Alcohol, all services are provided at no cost to schools and community organizations.
- Classroom ATOD Prevention
- Small Group Prevention
- STARs (Students Taking an Active Role)
- Tobacco Resistance Unit (TRU)
- Community and Health Fair Events
Valley Youth House also offers diversion education and ARD programs designed to provide meaningful learning opportunities while satisfying legal or school requirements. These programs include:
CHOICES: A court-approved ARD program that fulfills legal or school requirements for charges such as disorderly conduct, harassment, or criminal mischief.
DECISIONS: A court-approved ARD program that fulfills legal or school requirements for underage drinking and/or public drunkenness through engaging, educational intervention.
Marijuana Awareness Class (MAC): An educational awareness program for youth up to age 18 that focuses on prevention, informed decision-making, and understanding the risks associated with marijuana use.
Bucks County Services
Thanks to support from the Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission, YEP is able to deliver evidence-based prevention, cessation, and awareness initiatives directly within schools and organizations in the Upper Bucks County footprint. The goal of these services is to address the ongoing challenges of youth e-cigarette use and support a healthier environment. These services include:
Evidence-Based Prevention Curriculums: YEP delivers proven vaping prevention curriculums – specifically Catch My Breath and You and Me, Together Vape-Free – tailored for classroom or group settings.
Alternative-to-Suspension Cessation Programming: On an as-needed basis, YEP provides the evidence-based In Depth vaping cessation program. This is an ideal resource for students who have violated school e-cigarette or tobacco policies, focusing on intervention and education rather than just punishment.
Student-Led Anti-Vaping Groups: YEP helps facilitate a monthly anti-vaping group in 1-2 area middle or high schools. Following the Vape Free Schools Initiative, these student groups will design and promote their own peer-to-peer anti-vaping campaigns and collaborate with Tobacco Resistance Units in neighboring counties.
Community and Health Event Presence: YEP is available to participate in your school’s health fairs, parent nights, or community tabling events to disseminate educational information and raise awareness about the risks of vaping.
